Animals in Panama

A sometimes difficult reality… but also extraordinary people who take action

When we think of Panama, we often imagine:
– tropical beaches,
– lush jungle,
– sloths,
– monkeys,
– iguanas,
– and nature still very much alive.

And it’s true.
Panama’s biodiversity is absolutely incredible.

But when you live here longer, you also discover another, more difficult reality:
that of abandoned or mistreated animals.
Stray dogs, abandoned cats, horses tied too short, unsterilized animals…
For many Europeans sensitive to the animal cause, this can be a real emotional shock.

And let’s be honest: yes, the animal situation in Panama is still complicated.

But here too, as is often the case in Panama, the reality is more nuanced than it seems.
Because in parallel, there are also some absolutely extraordinary people who devote an immense part of their lives to helping animals.
And without them, the situation would probably be much worse.

🐕 Why are there so many stray animals in Panama?

The problem stems from a combination of factors. For a long time:
– sterilization was not a habit,
– awareness campaigns were limited,
– and many families did not necessarily have the means to pay for veterinary care.

The result:
animal overpopulation has become a real challenge in some regions.
And when litters multiply rapidly, so do abandonments.

In rural areas in particular, it’s not uncommon to see:
– stray dogs,
– colonies of cats,
– or animals living in difficult conditions.

🌱 Yet… things are slowly beginning to change

But to reduce Panama to just that would be unfair.
For several years now, numerous associations, foundations and volunteers have been trying to change people’s attitudes.

Little by little, awareness is growing:
– more sterilization campaigns,
– more adoptions,
– more discussions about animal welfare,
– and more citizen involvement.

Change remains slow. But it is happening.

🏥 Sterilization: one of the biggest levers

In Panama, many associations now consider sterilization to be the main key to achieving lasting improvements in the animal situation.
And among the country’s best-known organizations is Spay Panama.

For many years, this foundation has been organizing:
– mass sterilization campaigns,
– low-cost operations,
– community days,
– and actions in different regions of the country.

Their objective is simple: to reduce animal overpopulation in order to limit:
– abandonment,
– mistreatment,
– disease,
– and long-term animal suffering.

Some of these days allow hundreds of animals to be sterilized in a single weekend.

These sterilization days require an enormous amount of organization.

Spay Panama generally provides:
– the vets,
– the equipment,
– and some of the volunteers.

But on site, it’s often the local associations that have to:
– find the venue,
– organize the weekend,
– get the volunteers together,
– and above all find the necessary funds.

And that’s a lot of money.
Depending on the region and the number of animals being cared for, a single day can require between 5,000 and 6,000 USD in private donations, enabling local people to have their animals sterilized for a pittance.

Spay Panama also has an office in Betania, Panama City, and offers low-cost sterilizations by appointment throughout the year.

🐾 Misión Patitas: a growing initiative

In recent years, another important project has also come into being:
Misión Patitas.

This initiative, supported by the office of the First Lady of Panama, organizes:
– sterilization campaigns,
– adoption days,
– educational actions,
– and awareness-raising programs throughout the country.

Thousands of sterilizations have already been carried out thanks to these campaigns.

And it’s making a huge difference on the ground.

💛 Volunteers who give so much

But beyond the big structures, the most impressive thing about Panama is often the volunteers.

People who:
– take in animals,
– pay for veterinary care,
– feed abandoned dogs and cats,
– organize adoptions,
– and sometimes finance it all almost single-handedly.

This is particularly true of Nadège Bernard, a Frenchwoman living in Panama with her husband Christophe.

With their local association Doggo Fundación Animal Rescue of Antón, they take care of dogs and cats on a daily basis:
– sterilized,
– vaccinated,
– treated,
– and waiting to be adopted.

They also organize operations to capture stray cats, sterilize them and then release them, to prevent uncontrolled reproduction.

The association also helps the most disadvantaged people to:
– sterilize their animals,
– have them treated,
– or simply feed them.

And sometimes, when they receive reports of stray cat colonies or abandonments, they organize real “commando operations” to catch the animals, have them sterilized and then release them.

And like many associations in Panama, their work relies essentially on:
– private donations,
– volunteers,
– and an enormous amount of human energy.

🌍 A reality more complex than imagined

What’s important to understand is that the animal situation in Panama is also linked:
– to economic realities,
– to cultural differences,
– to a lack of resources,
– and sometimes simply to a lack of education on the subject.

But contrary to certain preconceived ideas, many Panamanians have a deep love for animals and are also trying to change things.

Today we see:
– more adoptions,
– more awareness campaigns,
– more discussions about sterilization,
– and a growing involvement of the younger generation.

And legally?

Panama now has a legal framework for animal protection.

Article 1201 of Panama’s Administrative Code already states that the police must prohibit mistreatment of domestic animals when it involves cruelty. The text even specifies that such acts :

They “repel and mortify sensitive people and introduce bad habits”.

Over the years, a number of regulations and measures have progressively strengthened animal protection, with penalties ranging from
– fines,
– to criminal prosecution,
– and even prison sentences in certain serious cases of mistreatment.

In recent years, authorities and associations also seem to be taking the subject more seriously, thanks in particular to the awareness-raising work carried out in the field.

Other associations

Today, there are a huge number of associations in Panama trying to get things moving.

Among the best known are:
– MOCA Panamá
– Huellitas Panamá
– Adopta un Gato PTY
– Kitten Garden Panamá
– Andy’s Dog Rescue
– Huellitas Penonomé

They all work, each in their own way, to:
– combat animal abuse,
– encourage adoption,
– raise awareness of sterilization,
– and gradually improve the condition of animals in the country.

Mistaken beliefs

It’s also important to understand that certain very conservative cultural or religious beliefs still sometimes complicate the task of raising awareness about sterilization.

Some people still think:
– that a female should have at least one litter before being neutered,
– or that a male should not be neutered because it would go against his “virility” or against God’s will.

For some very religious or fanatical people, the fact that an animal can have offspring is part of “God’s natural order”, and interfering with this would therefore be seen as something bad.
Fortunately, these mentalities seem to be gradually changing.

Today’s younger generations seem much more open:
– to sterilization,
– to adoption,
– and to animal welfare in general.

And little by little… things are changing on that front too.

🐶 Adopt rather than buy

One of the messages often heard from associations is simple:
=> adopt rather than buy.
Because behind every adoption, there is often:
– an animal saved,
– a place freed up in a shelter,
– and a new chance of life.

And when you see the work accomplished by some volunteers in Panama, you quickly understand that every adoption really does count.

🐾 And what about us? The story of Casa Fofo‘s three cats

We’re animal lovers, especially cats. We wanted to have them, not least because we’ve always had them, but also because they’re formidable predators (and since there are a few critters here, we can have our own hunters at home).

Little by little, through meetings, discussions and the stories we heard around us, we began to discover the immense work carried out by certain associations and volunteers.

And it was through Nadège Bernard, whom I mentioned earlier, that our paths crossed with those of three little cats who would completely change our daily lives.

🧡 Craquotte, the little tricoline of the rainy season

Craquotte is a little tricoline whose mom was a stray cat… now happily sterilized.
Pregnant, this mom cat had taken refuge in the house next door to her hiding place to stay dry during the rainy season.
That’s where she gave birth.
As Nadège knew we were dreaming of a little tricoline, she contacted us.
We went to see this tiny ball of fur… and immediately fell in love.
We then adopted her once she had been weaned and sterilized.

🖤 Muffin, the little black cat rescued from a garbage can

Then there was Muffin.
A tiny black cat with green eyes.
Barely born, he had been thrown into a garbage can. Unfortunately, in certain fanatical religious beliefs, black cats are still sometimes considered to be demons (in the literal sense of the word).
A passer-by heard little noises coming from the garbage can, discovered the baby and immediately brought him to Nadège so that she could take care of him.
As we also wanted to adopt a little black cat, Nadège told us about it… and Muffin joined the adventure at the same time as Craquotte.

🤎 Huggy, the sensitive one

Then came Huggy.
Well… “Huggy” is the name Cloé gave him later, as he’s extremely cuddly. He was originally called something else.
Huggy was originally taken in with his brother, a black and white cat. The two were adopted together by a family.
But when the lady became pregnant, she was told that cats were dangerous for the foetus. Doubtless ill-informed on the subject, she eventually brought the two cats back to the shelter.
They were then adopted by another family.
Unfortunately, a few days later, the new owner discovered that she was allergic to cats… and let them go outside.
Obviously, they ran away.
The brother was unfortunately never found.
Huggy, on the other hand, was recovered and brought back to the shelter. Nadège said he was constantly meowing, looking for his brother.
This story deeply touched my daughter Cloé.
I still remember her saying:
“He’s suffered enough. Now he needs a family who loves him.”
And that’s how we ended up adopting a third cat… even though we originally only wanted two.

🌴 Casa Fofo cats

Before their final adoption, the three cats were kept together for some time at Nadège’s home so that they could get used to each other.
Then they came to live with us, at Casa Fofo.
Today, they are totally part of our life here.
They are blossoming a little more every day:
– cuddly,
– playful,
– funny,
– hunters,
– and each with its own distinct character.

But they all have one thing in common:
they’re deeply adorable.
And honestly, we have absolutely no regrets about adopting them. 🐾

🌊 Conclusion

Yes, the animal situation in Panama can sometimes be hard to see.
Yes, there’s still a lot of work to be done.
But it would be wrong to think that no one is taking action.

Behind the sometimes harsh realities, there are also:
– associations,
– veterinarians,
– volunteers,
– and animal lovers

who devote incredible energy to improving things.

Panama isn’t perfect.
But here too, little by little… mentalities seem to be slowly evolving. 🐾